Enameling-fork for bath-tubs.



No. 700,02l.

(Applicnigion led Jan. 31, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.A

(No Model.) ,I w

. NJ i \l l I wn'NEssEs 'l No. 700,02l. Patented Ma'y |3, |902'. E.DITHRIDGE.

ENAMELING FORK FOR BATH TUBS'. (Application led Jan. 31, 1901,) wpModel.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.A

mi Nanals PETERS co.. PHOTQMTHO.. wur-smoren, n.

UNITED STAT-Es PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD DITHRIDGE, oEELI-avooD CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

vENAMELING-FO'RKQFORvBATH-KTUBS.

SPECIFICAHON forming part of *LettersEtat-entV No'."700,0;21,` dated May13, 1902.

i Application filed January 31,1901. Serial No. 45,473, (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the ac'` companying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, in Which- Figure 1 Iis'asideA elevation, partly in sec'-tion, of myimproved apparatus.

top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation showingthe partsin a diifer-` Fig.' 4 is a partial plan view, on a largerscale, of the clamping mechanism forv the tub; and Fig. 5 is an end-vieW of thev ent position.

r gearing for rotating the fork.

` rounding the post 2.

.in the enarneling-muifle.

Inthe drawings, 2 represents Vthe vertical My invention relates to thehandling ofL bath-tubs in the enameling operationl and is designed toprovide an -improved apparatus' by which the tub may be tilted intoanydesired position under the control of the operator and by which thetub may also be inserted post of a crane having a lower rigid arm' 3,

which swings in a horizontal plane and'from which hangs a swiveled yoke4, through which extends the shaft 5, having the end handle 6. The arm 3is preferably provided with'tenf sion-brace 7, and above it is a secondarm 8, which is pivoted at 9 to a loose collar 10, sur- The arm 8 .maytherefore be swung both in a horizontal and a vertical plane, and itsvertical -movement may be secured through the Wire rope'll, extendingover the pulley 12 in'thearm, or by any other suitable connections. Alink, 1,3 depends from the outer end of the arxn 8 and has a swivelconnection .14 with a collar 15 which surrounds and supports the bearing16. The shaft 5 is rigidly secured within the rear end of the two-partbearing 1,6, within which extends the rear portion of arotary shaft 17,which carries the fork proper, 18. Ball-bearings are preferably providedWithin the bearing-sleeve fortheshaft 17, asindicated at 19, and theshaft is turned by worm-wheel 20, meshing with worm 2l on the shortcountershaft 22', having bevel-gear connection 23 with a shaft 24,actuated by a smallrotary motor 25. Compressed air or'otheractu'atingFig. 2 is al fluid may be led to the motor by aiiexible conneetion, andthe shaft 17,"witl1-its fork, may thus be rotated and locked in anyadjusted position by the screw-gearing.

' AThe fork 18 is provided with trunnions 26, to theinner ends of whichare secured longitudinal plates 27, which fit against the side vportionsof the tub and are provided at their v frontand rear ends with loops oreyes 28, which areYA engaged by spring-catches 29,

IThese end shields'are formedtoyfit thetend uof the'tub and are providedwith pulleys 31, over which Wind the cords or chains 32," which lpassthrough guiding-eyes 33 to the catches. By turning the hand-wheel 34 thecords may be tightened to disengage the catches 29 from lthe loops andallow the end shields to be removed after the dredging operation is perLformed. v j AToturn the tub in the fork to bring it to the differentpositions desired, I provide one of the trunnions vwith a worm-wheel 35,engaging a worm on shaft 37, carried in beary.ings at one side of thefork and having an actuating-handle 38.

In the operation of the apparatus the tub is inserted in the forks andthe end shields are tilted, as shown in Fig. 3. The operator then turnsthe' tub to its diiferent positions by turning the handle 38 and byactuating the motor to `rotate the fork. The enamel is `dredged in thetub in these different positions. The tub and fork beingl raised orlowered by means ot`- the upper pivoted arm 8, the end shields 8 areremoved, and the tub being brought to the normal horizontal position isshoved into the enameliug-muffle 39v by the operator using the `handle6. When the enamel has been sufficiently heated to glaze the tub, it isdrawn out of theinuifleand removed from the fork. f `rinothertublis theninserted and the operation is repeated.

The advantages of myinventionwill be' apparent to those skilled in theart, since a simple and effective apparatus is provided by which the tubmay be tilted to its various positions with ease and rapidity. The forkitself, by which the tub is introduced to the lnuftle, is utilized forthe dredging of the 'whose shanks are secured to end shields 30.

secured invplace, thus fastening the tub tol theforks, sothat it willnot slide out when f I'do enamel instead of using a separate machine, asheretofore.

The mechanism and connections for tilting the tub upon the fork, forfastening it to the fork, as well as the other parts of the apparatus,may be modified without departing from my invention.

I claiml. In bath-tub-handling apparatus, a movable support carrying atub-fork, mechanism for rotating the fork on its axis, and mechanism fortilting the tub to different angles relatively to the fork-axis;substantially as described.

2. In enameling apparatus, an overhead support, an enameliug-forkcarried thereby, mechanism for raising and lowering the fork, mechanismfor rotating the fork, and mechanism for tilting the tub to an anglewith the axis of the fork; substantially as described.

ED VARD DITHRIDGE.

Witnesses:

M. S. MURPHY, C. P. BYRNES.

